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In a recent interview with student reporter, Damon Weaver, President Obama announced that on September 8 — the first day of school for many children across America — he will deliver a national address directly to students on the importance of education. The President will challenge students to work hard, set educational goals, and take responsibility for their learning. He will also call for a shared responsibility and commitment on the part of students, parents and educators to ensure that every child in every school receives the best education possible so they can compete in the global economy for good jobs and live rewarding and productive lives as American citizens.

Since taking office, the President has repeatedly focused on education, even as the country faces two wars, the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression and major challenges on issues like energy and health care. The President believes that education is a critical part of building a new foundation for the American economy. Educated people are more active civically and better informed on issues affecting their lives, their families and their futures.

This is the first time an American president has spoken directly to the nation's school children about persisting and succeeding in school. We encourage you to use this historic moment to help your students get focused and begin the school year strong. I encourage you, your teachers, and students to join me in watching the President deliver this address on Tuesday, September 8, 2009. It will be broadcast live on the White House website www.whitehouse.gov 12:00 noon eastern standard time.

In advance of this address, we would like to share the following resources: a menu of classroom activities for students in grades preK-6 and for students in grades 7-12. These are ideas developed by and for teachers to help engage students and stimulate discussion on the importance of education in their lives. We are also staging a student video contest on education. Details of the video contest will be available on our website www.ed.gov in the coming weeks.

On behalf of all Americans, I want to thank our educators who do society's most important work by preparing our children for work and for life. No other task is more critical to our economic future and our social progress. I look forward to working with you in the months and years ahead to continue improving the quality of public education we provide all of our children.

Sincerely,

Arne Duncan

Jim Greer, GOP Chairman from Florida responded with Glenn Beck type Bat Crap Crazy with the following statement. You can verify that it is the real thing here:

Tallahassee- Â Republican Party of Florida Chairman Jim Greer today released the following statement condemning President Obama's use of taxpayer dollars to indoctrinate America's children to his socialist agenda.

"As the father of four children, I am absolutely appalled that taxpayer dollars are being used to spread President Obama's socialist ideology. The idea that school children across our nation will be forced to watch the President justify his plans for government-run health care, banks, and automobile companies, increasing taxes on those who create jobs, and racking up more debt than any other President, is not only infuriating, but goes against beliefs of the majority of Americans, while bypassing American parents through an invasive abuse of power.

"While I support educating our children to respect both the office of the American President and the value of community service, I do not support using our children as tools to spread liberal propaganda. The address scheduled for September 8, 2009, does not allow for healthy debate on the President's agenda, but rather obligates the youngest children in our public school system to agree with our President's initiatives or be ostracized by their teachers and classmates.

"Public schools can't teach children to speak out in support of the sanctity of human life or traditional marriage. President Obama and the Democrats wouldn't dream of allowing prayer in school. Christmas Parties are now Holiday Parties. But, the Democrats have no problem going against the majority of American people and usurping the rights of parents by sending Pied Piper Obama into the American classroom.

The Democrats have clearly lost the battle to maintain control of the message this summer, so now that school is back in session, President Obama has turned to American's children to spread his liberal lies, indoctrinating American's youngest children before they have a chance to decide for themselves."

So, let me get this straight. Obama wants to talk to students about working hard, staying in school, studying, etc, and Greer decides that it's Obama's latest attempt to indoctrinate the nations youth and recruit them into the communist party?

"For everyone to whom much is given, of him shall much be required." -- Luke 12:48

Unfortunately, the second paragraph of the secretary's letter was inappropriate and unnecessary.

Maybe unnecessary, but I don't know about inappropriate. All she's doing is tooting his horn a little, stating that despite the major challenges facing the president, he is still focused and committed to education.

If you're arguing that she opened the door to the loony response, I disagree. There is nothing stating that his address to the students will broach any of those topics.

Last edited by Buzz; 09-01-2009 at 08:29 PM.

"For everyone to whom much is given, of him shall much be required." -- Luke 12:48

Oh, the outrage. Buzz, I'm sure you would have been just fine with every public school child being propped in front of a TV to hear George Bush tell them why it is important to listen to what the President says and then being asked by their teachers to come up with ways in which they can help the President. Right? Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiggggggggggghhhhhhhhht.

Oh, the outrage. Buzz, I'm sure you would have been just fine with every public school child being propped in front of a TV to hear George Bush tell them why it is important to listen to what the President says and then being asked by their teachers to come up with ways in which they can help the President. Right? Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiggggggggggghhhhhhhhht.

btw, Arne Duncan is a man.

The outrage is that Greer knows well that most people won't go out and find the original letter stating the purpose of the address to students. They will read his statement and assume that indeed Obama is going to address the students about everything that he says he will, and they'll be outraged too, get out their signs, paint Hitler mustaches on Obama, and call him a commie and socialist. So Greer starts a big controversy on a bunch of made up crap. Typical operating procedure of the GOP.

For the record, it wouldn't have bothered me one bit if Bush wanted to address students about working hard, studying, and staying in school. I would have given him credit for trying to give students a positive message at the start of a new school year. But NOOOO, everything has to be turned into controversy, regardless if one exists or not.

Last edited by Buzz; 09-02-2009 at 08:06 AM.

"For everyone to whom much is given, of him shall much be required." -- Luke 12:48

The outrage is that Greer knows well that most people won't go out and find the original letter stating the purpose of the address to students. They will read his statement and assume that indeed Obama is going to address the students about everything that he says he will, and they'll be outraged too, get out their signs, paint Hitler mustaches on Obama, and call him a commie and socialist. So Greer starts a big controversy on a bunch of made up crap. Typical operating procedure of the GOP.

Yes, I know. You've already gone on record that anti-war/anti-Bush protests/dissent was good and anti-Obama protests/dissent is bad.

But can we get past your Hitler mustache phobia and move on to the larger question? Would you have been OK to have had Bush address every public school child and telling them the importance of listening to what the President says and then having the children discuss ways in which they could help the President?

But can we get past your Hitler mustache phobia and move on to the larger question? Would you have been OK to have had Bush address every public school child and telling them the importance of listening to what the President says and then having the children discuss ways in which they could help the President?

I did answer that.

Where did you get, "telling them the importance of listening to what the President says and then having the children discuss way in which they could help the President?" It isn't in the letter from the secretary. Either you made it up, or heard it from someone who made it up.

"For everyone to whom much is given, of him shall much be required." -- Luke 12:48

Obama, my Dear Leader, give me by God.
Protect and preserve my life for long.
You saved America in time of need.
I thank you for my daily bread.
Be with me for a long time, do not leave me, Obama, my Dear Leader.
My faith, my light, Hail to my Dear Leader.

Obama, my Dear Leader, give me by God.
Protect and preserve my life for long.
You saved America in time of need.
I thank you for my daily bread.
Be with me for a long time, do not leave me, Obama, my Dear Leader.
My faith, my light, Hail to my Dear Leader.

More Bat Crap crazy at it's finest.

"For everyone to whom much is given, of him shall much be required." -- Luke 12:48

I talked to my daughters teacher about this this morning. I told her if they were going to air this Obami address to students let me know ahead of time so I can Pick Kate up early that day. Her response was that she hadn't heard about and wouldn't be showing it to the kids. Thank God for a nice Christian school.